Senior Curator NZ Histories and Cultures

Te Papa Tongarewa is seeking an experienced Senior Curator to lead its NZ Histories and Cultures team of three curators, based in Wellington.

This is a permanent, full-time role (40 hours per week) reporting to the Head of Mātauranga Māori and Humanities. You'll provide leadership and direction to your team, foster a high-performance environment, and help shape curatorial practice across Te Papa as a whole.

Key responsibilities include

• Leading and developing the NZ Histories and Cultures curatorial team
• Providing technical oversight and mentorship across curatorial practice
• Developing, supervising and undertaking research projects aligned with Te Papa's cross-curatorial strategy and Mana Taonga framework
• Contributing to exhibitions, visitor experiences and audience engagement in collaboration with the Audience and Experience directorate
• Developing operational plans that are innovative, future-focused and audience-centred

The ideal candidate will bring strong expertise in New Zealand Histories and Cultures (a PhD or equivalent experience is preferred), significant collection development experience, and a track record of collaborative leadership across a complex organisation. You'll also demonstrate a genuine commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and embedding te ao Māori perspectives into your work.

Benefits include onsite kindergarten, subsidised parking, café and store discounts, and free entry to paid exhibitions.

For a confidential conversation, contact Paul Diamond at Paul.Diamond@tepapa.govt.nz.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand. Pre-employment checks including criminal conviction history and reference checks will be conducted.